D&D5e Compatible

The Sound of Giants

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Tonight and I have created a new zine for the year. I hope you are finding the current format of this Zine useful as I am continue to investigate what I can create weekly. I do this while aiming to give the DM freedom and flexibility without railroading them and the Party. So without any further waiting I present, The Sound of Giants, in the same format, as a fun one-shot to assist GMs when they need a night out of the books.

As always this adventure can be used system agnostic but focuses on D&D so please feel free to adjust to what ever system and the creatures you are using in your adventure! However as always Kobold fight club can be used to quickly balance an encounter for Dungeons and Dragons and Tetra-cube provides the stat-blocks for the creatures found in this adventure.

So I hope you enjoy this weeks adventure, The Sound of Giants, and that your rolls are made with advantage.

The Sound of Giants

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Swans Reprieve – Created in Nightcafe.

As the party climbed the steep cliff the expertise of Jayke and Daruden became evident. Climbing rapidly and jumping to ledges that would require either great athleticism or training they fastened the pitons to ensure that they had a waypoint in case they fell, but more importantly the party could ascend with them. 

Despite some of the earlier doubts in the duo the pitons held securely and none of them failed on the ascent. Jayke and Daruden even assisted the party several times to ensure that they ascended safely to the top.

However as they neared the ledge a sound reaches them that caused each of them to hug the stoney face. 

The guttural voices of ogres could be heard from the ledge above them and the snapping of bones could be heard from the crackle and pop from a fire that cast a red glow upon the edge where they needed to reach in order to head towards the castle, or where Jayke and Daruden were taking them to at least.

PDF adventure – The Sound of Giants

the-sound-of-giantsDownload

Thanks for joining me today for another Zine this year. As usual there is a lot more in the Zine than there was in the daily updates on this blog – so make sure to grab a copy of the PDF.

Next time you get a party together consider running this adventure and I hope that you enjoy it.
I hope you don’t miss a thing so come back daily in the coming week and year. This is so you can experience the creation of the next adventure as it evolves and shapes out. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Red Crescent

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It’s been a while since I have done something like imagine an organisation such as the Red Crescent. Having diverse, rich organisations within the world can make it feel that much more real and immersive. Tonight I briefly touch on the Red Crescent which is inspired by an organisation I have in my home-brew world.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s check it out!

The Red Crescent

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The Red Crescent – Created in Nightcafe.

The Red Crescent is a relatively secret organisation who seeks out aberrations and evil within the land. These elite warriors are among the most well equipped and trained of the free companies within the land and can, to some degree, can work around the law.

This organisation was created by a survivor of the Red Day – a catastrophic event where a solar eclipse was manipulated by a powerful wizard to bath the continent in mutating energies. Aberrations ran rampart and destroyed many villagers and due to the magic involved the eclipse lasted not just moments but for hours. The battle that followed the event, and the hunt for the mage, cost many lives and it proved one thing. That there was a need for warriors who were above the law and outside of the sway of royalty so they could act independently to save lives.

The organisation grew as people were hand selected to become a Red Crescent warrior and soon their ranks swelled. Now the organisation is the second largest in the continent and they devote their days to sending warriors on peace keeping quests to protect the world, and its people from aberrations who would see civilisation fall.

These warriors are born not just from necessity but from the anticipation of calamities to come ahead. Diverging from the original directive to protect from aberrations these warriors are trained to fight and win against just about any hostile or threat to civilisation that comes their way. However, as their directive is to protect and serve the good people of this world they don’t seek out evil or threats. They however get around this by employing adventurers or heroes to seek out the threats and in doing so safeguard the future of the realms in which they are sworn to protect.

Thanks for visiting tonight. I hope tonight’s order inspires you to expand your characters back story, or, expand your world to flesh it out to create a rich tapestry of people and places to seek out. Don’t forget tomorrow wraps up this week so make sure to not forget to come back for that. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

To the defence of Wellford

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This week the party rush to the defence of Wellford as the best shot they have of curing the affliction in the village rides towards them. But they are not the only thing rushing towards the prospect of a feast as raiders hide in ambush and rush towards the salvation of the village.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s encounter!

To the defence of Wellford

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Gnoll – created in tetra-cube.
Gnoll Stalker- created in tetra-cube.

This week we have some of my favourite creatures, well the option of using them. Gnolls are savage, the way that they come into this world is even more so and when they mix with the civilised world then conflict is nearly guaranteed. This week we have a VIP, a merchant rushing to get through the gates of the Wellford whilst being harangued by an adversary.

Now this doesn’t have to be gnolls – it could be orcs, ogres, or any more aggressive race. For us the world is open to possibilities as we explore what we can do and what is available to us.

A small one tonight but, as always, there is always a lot more planned for the Zine. So keep an eye out for that over the next few weeks. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Entrance to Wellford

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The entrance to Wellford has evolved with time and the knowledge of how the wilds around the village are changing. Once peaceful lands have turned to ones seething with opportunity for those who wish harm upon civilised races and so the town created a wall to protect its people. But that wont be enough if they are all afflicted with this strange blight.

So let’s sit back, grab a coffee and roll into map!

Entrance to Wellford

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Entrance to Wellford – Created in Inkarnate

A simple one this week with 100 feet either direction of the map. The crude wall (and a moveable tower) is there to safeguard and to provide a place where archers can mount a defence of the wall. However these are pretty crude and its evident that they were not made by master craftsmen – so discretion whether they are safe to stand upon is advised.

Now no town is complete without something in the plain beyond. A smattering of trees on the field as well as two small hills gives depth and elevation to the land which can provide a place for an ambush or, perhaps, a way of impeding attackers if used correctly.

Not overly complex this week with the use of maybe seven assets types to create the buildings, hills and trees as well as the overlapping of, albeit different shades, two different texture brushes to create the grassy plains, road and indents that carts have previously made.

Thanks for visiting my tabletop tonight and for continuing on with this adventure with me. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow and this weekend as we continue on this adventure and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Wellfords Affliction

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Tonight we uncover the cause of Wellfords affliction, well we hint at it very, very strongly at least. While this adventure is more aligned to a investigation there is some combat coming as well with the close of tonight’s update.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s adventure!

Wellfords Affliction

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Wellford Wine – Created in Nightcafe.
Wellford Stew – Created in Nightcafe.

The party watched as Taniya moved about the kitchen and worked the knives on her belt with such dextrous movements that it was easy to see that she was not always the owner of the Muckberry Inn. As she chopped up the vegetables, mushrooms and expertly diced up what appeared to be rabbit she hummed a tune as the food cooked.

“So where do you start?” Tyren asked as he shamelessly strolled nearby looking around the inn for something to eat or drink that was left behind. Smiling in triumph he grabbed a small bottle that had been corked and left on the windowsill.

“Ah, you’re in luck today Tyren.” Taniya called out as her keen elvish ears picked up what he was up to. “It was already paid for so I am not going to take it from you but its probably the last of the Wellford Wine that we sold out of. Savour it as I don’t know if the next delivery will make it here, or if there will be anyone left to drink it.” she sighed as she put a large pot in front of the adventurers with the stacked stew filled with fresh greens, tender meat and mushrooms.

As she watched the party eat she smiled. “I wasn’t always the keeper of the inn. I was a ranger for his lords army and before that I tended the great forest as one of its shepherds. I learnt a great deal about nature, people and beasts.” she said as she pointed a slender finger at one of the darker mushrooms. “This is witches wort. Poisonous if you don’t respect it and treat it just rightly. But if prepared in just the right way it cures many illnesses that you could find.” She smiled as she watched the party. “I don’t intend to poison you, the green leaf here, elves ears, neutralises the poison and together they will provide some protection from dark magic and illness. Or so it is said.” she smiled.

“Bunch of myths if you ask me” Tyren replied as he sat down and uncorked the small bottle. As he drank a mouthful he sat back and savoured the wine. “I can see why the village went nuts for this. It really is marvellous.” He said as he admired the bottle. Hesitating before he drank the last drop he handed it to Taniya “Here, you must want to have the last of it if it is to be the last drop in the village?” he asked.

“No, thank you but I don’t drink. Never have, something like a preserving action really.”

“Well, the next few days may give you the reason.” Tyren replied placing the bottle before the elf before she took it and placed it behind the bar.

“We’ll see.” Taniya replied before busying herself around the Inn.

The day was spent investigating around the town and its people but apart from the way they moved there was no sign of magics or disease on any of the people of the village. They could tell that the villagers understood them but they couldn’t respond to the adventurers in the normal ways.

As they began to retire for the day they became aware of a light battering on the door to the Inn before it was opened by Taniya. “Uh, we have a bit of situation!” called Taniya. The party head downstairs and were greeted with Taniya staring at Tyren who with eyes watching them intently moved with the same excruciatingly slow pace as the rest of the villagers – his eyes fixated on the kitchen to a corked bottle that stood on the shelf.

Thanks for joining me another night at my tabletop. Tomorrow we will expand upon the encounter map for this week, something I am looking forward to getting back to. Friday we will have the encounter of the week and the final hook for the week. So don’t forget to come back each remaining day this week and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Urchin and the Innkeeper

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Tonight we meet The Urchin and the Innkeeper – Tyren and Taniya. The party met Tyren as they entered Wellford and tonight they will meet Taniya. There isn’t more than meets the eye with these two NPCS this week but there is more afoot than you’d expect in a average village.

So let’s grab a coffee, sit back and roll into tonight’s adventure!

The Urchin and the Innkeeper

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Tyren – Created in nightcafe.

The rest of the village was just as quiet as when they entered. Some adults were moving about in the disturbingly slow gait that they saw earlier while the younger villagers and the poor were moving about, visibly distressed.

“I eard’ that there was a pack of gnolls spotted nearby. Better get leaving, we’ll grab what we can and make our escape before the gnolls get here. A feast they’ll find.” One of the rougher looking individuals, who obviously had been looting as Tyren had indicated some were doing earlier.

“It’s not sounding good for the village.” Tyren said as he walked next to the party. “We don’t have enough people who are functional to defend from any attacks.” As they walked down the streets Tyren pointed out shops that used to be open to the public – but not a store clerk stood near by and watched the party with pleading eyes. Soon the swinging sign of the Muckberry Inn appeared.

Taniya – Created in Nightcafe.

Taniya watched as the party walked into the Inn. She analysed them with hard eyes before spotting Tyren. “I told you Tyren, No coin, no drink”

“I am not here for your pity Taniya. And if you can’t tell – there is no way for me to make an honest coin these days any way” Tyren responded crossing his arms as he leant against the door frame. “I brought these folks to you though just in case they can work out what’s going on here. Strange that only the young, poor and you, which are neither, are not affected.”

Taniya scowled at Tyren. “A mystery indeed. I would blame magic as elves have some resistance to it, but that doesn’t explain children or the beggars like yourself.” she retorted before looking at the adventurers before her. “Well if you can help, we’d owe you a great deal. From what I can tell they are aware of what ever is going on around them but their movements don’t keep up with them. A bit of a pickle considering what lies beyond the villages gates and walls really.”

“Now I can offer you a room, the others are taken by visitors that can’t leave, they can’t get out of bed that is. I can also offer you food and drink at a reasonable price considering you are my only customers at the moment. I did have some famous wine imported – but that’s ran dry and I’m waiting on a new delivery any day now. But with the townsfolk afflicted as they are I doubt that anyone will visit for fear of being cursed, infected or what have you. Strange times indeed.” Taniya offered as she looked between them all.

“Oh and don’t even think about looting and scooting or you’ll have to answer to me.” she added flicking the rag she was cleaning mugs with over her shoulder and smirking.

A fun one this week, now to work out how to tie it all together… Don’t forget to come back daily this week as we expand this adventure and lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

Troubles in Wellford

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When the troubles in Wellford became apparent it was already too late for the majority of the village. An affliction has spread to nearly every adult within the village however it has not taken the most vulnerable. The children and the poor are left alone while those wealthier in the village appear to be targeted. Will it be too late for the party to uncover the source of the affliction or will the troubles in Wellford be unresolved.

So grab a coffee, hit the streets and let’s stroll through tonight’s adventure!

It’s not often that you find a village or town that is so quiet yet fully intact that you immediately know that something is wrong. Wellford is such a place with only a handful of people managing to, somehow, keep the village from stopping completely. The strangest thing is that its only the children or exceedingly poor that appear to be moving about the village with all the other populace stumbling around as if undead.

Yet they are not undead, they move about as if dazed but react to people and try to go about their daily jobs, just very slowly. Something is wrong in Wellford and if the party didn’t need information from the village it may be a better idea to just walk on through the village and beyond.

Troubles in Wellford

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Wellford – created in Nightcafe.

As the party walked into the town of Wellford they could tell that something was wrong. The Guards barely acknowledged them but their eyes slowly tracked them as they walked on into the village. Many of the doors to the buildings were open with several handful of small children running around the streets. After what felt like ages they finally saw an adult.

“Ah visitors,” the young man who appeared like he was dressed in everything that he owned. “I don’t suppose you could spare a few coppers so I can get out of this cursed village?” As the party dug deeper they found that the village was cursed, well that was what Tyren, the beggar, thought it was.

“I’ve been in this village for many years now. My feet found their way here and I managed to survive here longer than other cities. So here I’ve stayed. But for the last week the other villagers are, well they are like this.” he said as he pointed to a middle aged woman who was walking just about as slow as you could walk without stopping. Her eyes tracked things around her and regarded the party as she walked but her body moved exceedingly slowly. Slowly she turned towards the party and after about a minute she was facing them and she began walking towards them in a slow shuffle.

“They all do this. But once they reach you they just stand there and stare, making noise as if trying to talk but its too slow to understand. I’ve tried to work out what’s going on as the old miller used to give me enough coin to keep going when I helped him out but, for the last week he has been as slow as she and if I cant work, I don’t get coin.” he cursed as he kicked at a rock. “The others have started looting and just taking what they want but there are some who still are yet to fall to the curse – the elf at the Muckberry Inn in particular. She knows when you have done something wrong here and you pay for it.” he paused as he thought.

Besides I hope that this is just some passing sickness or something and that they will all wake up soon and since they watch with their eyes and move towards you. I know they are in there still. So I won’t do any wrong and hope either I leave soon, or they come good again. If you want to know more maybe the elf can help, but if you can’t help this village out, would you take me with you? Maybe I can start another life elsewhere – maybe the next place will be just as welcoming as here. It will be pity, nearly all the kids are free from the curse too but their parents are all… zombified.”

Not really a combat heavy one this week as we focus on the mystery of what happened here. Don’t forget that as the week goes on we will continue to expand this adventure further. So don’t forget to come back for that and as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Path Most Travelled

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Now I am sure I have covered this before but tonight the path most travelled buy all parties is generally a road. Tonight we look at a very forested wooded path from the origin to the destination point for a party and look at just some of the thing that could be encountered.

So sit back, grab a coffee and let’s check out tonight’s ideas!

The Path Most Travelled

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The Path Most Travelled – Created in Nightcafe.

The path most travelled is a simple affair really. Having a driving force move the party through a generally hostile landscape to reach their destination. Travel is something that many people either gloss over or over-do with bandits, roaming wolves or the like but there are a multitude of other options that we can explore.

The first is a travelling merchant.

Picture this the party have been travelling for days now on the road and the weather has turned. As the skies darken, their animals slow and the world begins to get louder as rain pelts down against the travellers. But there is the scent of cooking meat on the air that rises above the smell of mud and damp vegetation. As the fat raindrops splash down from the trees above a flickering light ahead of them reveals that there are other travellers taking this popular road.

Approaching the light the warning growl of two large dogs put the party on on alert however the call that answered alleviated some of the worry. “Down girls, there is no need for that. These people don’t look like bandits and they are definitely not orcs or the other marauding humanoids. Come strangers, share my fire if you wish” called the voice of a thin man who poked the fire. The dogs growl softened into a concerned throaty noise but they listened to their owner.

The fire held what remained of what appeared to be a deer while a pot hung next to the fire and the contents, a stew, bubbled. The man smiled as nearby a horse whinnies as it rested under a large canvas that was strung up next to a wagon that was laden with boxes, barrels and cloth wrapped packages. “The names Steve, this here is Filly an this is Kane. Named her that before I realised she was a girl, but the name stuck anyway.” he said as he gave the large mastiff on his right a big scratch behind the ears.

“I am a merchant of types, general goods, supplies and a few other rarer items but most of those are back home in the shop. You are welcome to share the first and some stew if you want. I can share some stories too” he flashed a toothy grin as he fished out a ladle and some small bowls.

The other one is something that isn’t what it seems to be. Now this has been done many times before – once or twice on this blog and several other times in the TTRPG media scene. But the easiest is a child appearing next to the road and picking flowers, or my favourite curiosity – mushrooms.

As the party travelled along the well worn path the trees began to open up and more sun began to shine between the branches. Along the side of the road animals hurriedly avoided the party as they scampered into burrows or up trees just in case the party decided to make meals out of them. But there was plenty of other things to eat near the road with a bounty of mushrooms, fruits and other edible plants lining the road.

However while admiring the view next to the road a young boy was spotted moving from plant to bush and from bush to mushroom patch as he carefully prodded and examined each edible long the road. When he became aware of the party he smiled and waved before continuing to look at the mushrooms before plucking one out of a dozen similar ones surrounding it to be placed in a bag.

“Dad always said you need to be particularly careful when picking mushrooms!” he called out as he moved to grab a few handfuls of berries from a bush. “The berries are generally fine, its all about the leaf shape really when you think about it. Rounder leaves generally are less likely to be poisonous and you can always give them a sniff if you are confused.” he said as he grabbed the last few berries from a bush.

When asked what he was doing here, how he got here or who he was he replied with “Oh just doing nothing” or “Nothing special to get here” or “Just nobody” as he tried to artfully dodge the questions. After a while he approached the party and held out the bag. “you lot will need this food more than I will. There is something strange going on in the forest lately with something scaring the bigger game away. You best be careful what you hunt as well as they say its protected by the elves!” he said whispering and looking to the trees.

Before the party could ask any more questions he skipped away into the forest, pausing to wave once before walking behind a tree and disappearing from view entirely. Even as the party kept an eye out for him to reappear, or if they followed him shortly after any trace of the boy could not be found. The food he had collected appeared to be all edible and harvested with a master foragers touch. There was also a small whistle made of yew in the bag which made no sound when blown – but no matter how far they travelled they still felt like there were eyes on their backs constantly.

Two options for random encounters on the side of the road. Not everything has to be combat, nor does everything have to make sense on the road when it comes to D&D. Don’t forget that we will have another adventure starting tomorrow so don’t forget to come back daily this week. And as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Astral Ripper

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Tonight we investigate the true antagonist of this week, Vek’lakah, the Astral Ripper. The cursed artefact that was too dangerous to allow to remain on the streets that it was purchased by Rose Talfuax so he could ensure it wouldn’t take another life – instead it snared someone trying to do the right thing.

But let’s not wait any longer. So sit down, grab a coffee and let’s roll into tonight’s adventure!

The Astral Ripper

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Vek’lakah, the Astral Ripper – Created in Nightcafe.

As soon as his hand hit the amulet he felt that something was wrong. The amulet felt cold and even as he tried to drop it his hand contorted and wrapped around it. The remains from the thugs that were here a moment ago were scattered around the warehouse floor. A trap set upon the crate dealt with those thugs but it was obviously there to ensure no one picked up the amulet.

Even as he looked for a solution he could feel his body tearing apart, being sucked into the void that the amulet was creating. As he was sucked in he witnessed a body, a husk of someone else, be dumped at his feet and turn to dust as it crumpled. ‘An exchange’, he thought as he felt with a great deal of pain with his muscles ripping and being sucked through what felt like the eye of a needle.

Then the pain disappeared after what felt like days but then he opened his eyes to endless skies. It took him a moment to realise where he was and a moment longer to believe what he was seeing. The Astral plane spread out before him, but not quite as he was sitting between the two planes, trapped. But he had been here before many years ago as an adventurer so he had some idea of what to expect, and what to do to get out of here. Now he just needed to find some help.

A bit of a hint of what’s happening behind the curtain this Saturday night. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for more tabletop content and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe

The Gang and the Ghast

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The Gang and the ghast this week is just what it sounds like. We have a gang to encounter this week aren’t exactly the most difficult people to deal with – but there are a lot of them. And well as for the ghast – its not actually a ghast, wanted to have something that started with G. But we have an apparition this week that is, quite the tough customer – however there is something more to it than meets the eye.

So let’s sit down, grab a coffee and roll into tonight’s encounter!

The Gang and the Ghast

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Traves Apparition – created in tetra-cube.

The Traves Apparition acts strangely, largely ignoring the party unless they get in its way and pursuing the members of Flints Butchers with a desperate need. After attacking them it moves through the wall as if searching for more enemies to face. The way it moves is trained, it turns aside blows and using its sword it cuts most magic in half – as if trained in life to move about. However it does not appear to be undead and spells and abilities that affect it simply fail with no indication that they effected the creature at all.

Street Bandit – Created in Tetra-cube.
Thug- Created in Tetra-cube.

The thugs of Flints butchers act like unit leaders with several new members, the street bandit, rallying around them and following commands. They are not overly strong, nor organised but they are ferocious and attack without much thought. However some of the members of Flints Butchers stare with horror at the apparition the moment it appears, fleeing as fast as it can claiming the Avenger of Traves has appeared.

Thanks for coming by tonight! Tomorrow we have a bit more on the table so don’t forget to come back for the last few days this week. And lastly, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe